L’amour des moules – a love story

There is a place where human interference and natural growth form less of a contrast and more of asymbiosis. About 50 meters off the beach, there where the shoals run dry at low tide but are flooded at high tide, there is a circle shaped mussle bank. Mussels are stimulated to grow there, like they used to do all along the Dutch coast. In any place where mussels could find a bit of shelter from the wind and… There is a place where human interference and natural growth form less of a contrast and more of asymbiosis. About 50 meters off the beach, there where the shoals run dry at low tide but are flooded at high tide, there is a circle shaped mussle bank. Mussels are stimulated to grow there, like they used to do all along the Dutch coast. In any place where mussels could find a bit of shelter from the wind and waves, they could be found in abundance.

The ring gives a degree of shelter to the mussel whilst allowing the salty water (and other species) to come and go freely. But only the more adventurous of the other species can reach this place. One square shaped void is empty, it seems. It only contains water. But very clean, filtered water since that is one of the beneficial effects of mussels and musselbanks: mussels feed from and then filter the water.

Seagulls and ducks are invited to rest on the cooking island as long as they are not disturbed by any human presence, which will be the case during most of the winter and spring. Whatever excrements they leave on the structure, the sea will rinse it off sooner or later.

Particularly during late spring and summer people will be able to enjoy the ring and its designated areas or elements. That is, only if they dare to get a bit of wet feet and cross the 50 meters of shoals within the limited time of the tides.

If they want to make it back in time they need to keep in mind when high-tide arrives. This allows other species plenty of time and opportunity to encounter the mussels without disturbance

The round, fluent shape gives the least obstruction to the waves and currents going around it at hightide. The natural timeslot that tides provide, allows a species time and opportunity to enjoy the mussels without disturbance by other species. The ring is where the encounter with mussels is shared between the human species and animals. It is where the love for mussels can begin and grow.

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